Elevation of lung glutathione by oral supplementation of L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate protects against oxygen toxicity in protein-energy malnourished rats.

The objectives of this study were to investigate whether oral supplementation of L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate (OTC) is effective for increasing tissue glutathione (GSH) concentrations in rats fed a diet very low (0.5%) in protein-a model of wasting malnutrition-and to determine the efficacy of OTC for protection against pulmonary oxygen toxicity. Weanling rats, fed a 0.5 or 15% protein diet for 2 wk, were given an oral supplement of OTC, and tissue GSH concentrations were measured over a 24 h period. OTC supplementation to rats fed 0.5% protein significantly increased GSH concentrations in liver and lung, but not in kidney and blood, when compared with the 0.5% protein unsupplemented group. The liver GSH concentration in the 0.5% protein OTC-supplemented group was higher than the 15% control group. Daily supplementation of OTC protected rats from pulmonary oxygen toxicity during 4 days of 85% oxygen exposure as determined by lung-to-body weight ratios and in vivo proton magnetic resonance imaging. Although hyperoxia exposure increased lung GSH concentrations in all groups, OTC supplementation was effective for increasing lung GSH concentration in rats fed the 0.5% protein diet. This study demonstrated that oral administration of OTC to wasting malnourished rats is an effective procedure to increase GSH concentration rapidly in target organs such as lung, and that daily supplementation of a low dose of OTC has a sustained effect to protect against pulmonary oxygen toxicity during 4 days of hyperoxia exposure.     

A fractionation procedure of mouse bone marrow cells yielding exclusively pluripotent stem cells and committed progenitors

The cell surface phenotype of pluripotent hemopoietic stem cells (CFU-S) and committed progenitors (CFU-C1, CFU-C2, BFU-E) of mouse bone marrow was analyzed with respect to their binding of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and two monoclonal antibodies, anti-GM-1.2 and anti-PGP-1. Stained cells were fractionated on the basis of differences in fluorescence and light scatter intensity using a light-activated cell sorter. The 6% of the cells that bound most WGA and that also had a relatively high forward light scatter (FLS) and low perpendicular light scatter (PLS) contained nearly all stem cells (CFU-S) and progenitors. Anti-GM-1.2 stained only mature myeloid cells, not CFU-S or the in vitro colony-forming cells. Anti-PGP-1 stained all bone marrow cells in varying intensities: lymphoid cells were dull, CFU-S were intermediate, CFU-C2 were brighter, and mature myeloid cells very bright. Enrichment of progenitor cells was performed by a two-step sorting procedure. First, the 6% most WGA-binding cells with high FLS and low PLS were sorted out. A 10-15-fold enrichment of progenitors and CFU-S was obtained. Next, these cells were restained with anti-GM-1.2 or anti-PGP-1 and again fractionated on the FACS. The GM-1.2-negative cells were then another four- to sevenfold more enriched for stem cells and progenitors. Of the cells in this fraction, 95% could be assigned to a colony-forming unit. With anti-PGP-1, CFU-C2 could be partly separated from more early cells such as CFU-S and BFU-E.     

Hybridocytochemistry as a tool for the investigation of chromatin organization

The study of nuclear components in cells and tissues has resulted in a wealth of information with regard to the role of chromatin in cellular processes. Here, a survey is given of procedures which allow the cytochemical investigation of nucleic acid present in microscopic preparations of cells, nuclei or metaphase chromosomes. Special attention is given to recent developments in hybridocytochemistry (in situ hybridization) which facilitate microscopic identification and localization of specific nucleotide sequences within the total amount of nucleic acids present. Some of the potentialities and limitations of these in situ hybridization methods are discussed.     

Separation of spleen colony-forming units and prothymocytes by use of a monoclonal antibody detecting an H-2K determinant

The density of H-2K antigens was determined on both the mouse hemopoietic stem cell, using an assay for spleen colony-forming units (CFU-S), and the prothymocyte, using a thymus repopulation assay. This was done by light-activated cell sorting of bone marrow cells labeled first with a biotinylated antibody against H-2Kk and then with avidin-fluorescein isothiocyanate. Almost all CFU-S were found to be present among the 4% bone marrow cells with high forward light scatter (FLS), low perpendicular light scatter (PLS), and bright immunofluorescence. Thymus regeneration by this brightly fluorescent fraction was delayed 3 days compared to thymus regeneration by unsorted cells, although the same number of CFU-S was present in each cell suspension. This delay indicates that differentiation from CFU-S to prothymocytes takes 3 days. The fraction of cells in the FLS/PLS window with dull anti-H-2Kk fluorescence contained few CFU-S and gave rise to a transient thymus regeneration. These findings indicate that the prothymocyte carries fewer H-2K antigens than does the CFU-S. The H-2K antigen is a marker with which CFU-S and prothymocytes can be separated. Therefore, during early T-cell differentiation, the number of H-2K molecules on the cell surface decreases (CFU-S----prothymocyte----cortical thymocyte). During maturation of T cells, a reexpression of H-2K molecules occurs, since lymph node cells and spleen cells were shown to be brightly positive for H-2K antigen.     

Fatty Acids and Polar Lipids of Extremely Thermophilic Filamentous Bacterial Masses from Two Yellowstone Hot Springs

The fatty acid composition of filamentous bacterial masses from two very hot Yellowstone Park springs is not unusual despite the extreme environment. Both populations have a series of C(14) to C(20) straight-chain acids with a maximum at C(18), and a series of saturated iso acids with a maximum at C(17) in one case and C(19) in the other. The fatty acid pattern of this anomalous group of organisms is like that of bacteria but not of blue-green algae. Both populations have similar polar lipids and identical carotenoids. It is speculated that these organisms may be adapted to their high-temperature environment by means of stable lipoprotein membrane systems.     

Flow cytometric quantification of human chromosome specific repetitive DNA sequences by single and bicolor fluorescent in situ hybridization to lymphocyte interphase nuclei

Fluorescent in situ hybridization allows for rapid and precise detection of specific nucleic acid sequences in interphase and metaphase cells. We applied fluorescent in situ hybridization to human lymphocyte interphase nuclei in suspension to determine differences in amounts of chromosome specific target sequences amongst individuals by dual beam flow cytometry. Biotinylated chromosome 1 and Y specific repetitive satellite DNA probes were used to measure chromosome 1 and Y polymorphism amongst eight healthy volunteers. The Y probe fluorescence was found to vary considerably in male volunteers (mean fluorescence 169, S.D. 35.6). It was also detectable in female volunteers (mean fluorescence 81, S.D. 10.7), because 5-10% of this repetitive sequence is located on autosomes. The Y probe fluorescence in males was correlated with the position of the Y chromosome cluster in bivariate flow karyotypes. When chromosome 1 polymorphism was studied, one person out of the group of eight appeared to be highly polymorphic, with a probe fluorescence 26% below the average. By means of fluorescent in situ hybridization on a glass slide and bivariate flow karyotyping, this 26% difference was found to be caused by a reduction of the centromere associated satellite DNA on one of the homologues of chromosome 1. The simultaneous hybridization to human lymphocyte interphase nuclei of biotinylated chromosome 1 specific repetitive DNA plus AAF-modified chromosome Y specific DNA was detected by triple beam flow cytometry. The bicolor double hybridized nuclei could be easily distinguished from the controls. When the sensitivity of this bicolor hybridization is improved, this approach could be useful for automatic detection of numerical chromosome aberrations, using one of the two probes as an internal control.     

Secretion of a platelet-derived growth factor homologue by rat alveolar macrophages exposed to particulates in vitro

Lung macrophages secrete a homologue of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) which induces the proliferation of fibroblasts in vitro. In previous studies, we showed that such a PDGF homologue is produced by rat alveolar macrophages and that rat lung fibroblasts have specific receptors for the macrophage-derived PDGF. In this study, we demonstrate the biological and physicochemical properties of the growth factor, as well as the time-related production of this factor following macrophage activation in vitro by organic and inorganic particles. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) collected by saline lavage from the lungs of rats were cultured in serum-free Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (SF-DMEM) for varying periods of time up to 72 h. The SF-DMEM "conditioned" by the AMs was used to treat early passage rat lung fibroblasts (RLFs), which were rendered quiescent by culturing in 2% platelet-poor plasma (PPP). Alveolar macrophage conditioned media (AMCM) in the presence of PPP caused increases in the number of fibroblasts, the percent of labeled fibroblast nuclei and tritiated [3H]thymidine incorporation. AMCM alone caused no detectable changes in fibroblast growth rate. These results indicate that AMs release a "competence-like" growth factor. The AMs were left untreated or were exposed to opsonized zymosan, carbonyl iron spheres or chrysotile asbestos fibers. Macrophages attached to a plastic substrate spontaneously produced the factor, and subsequent addition of the organic and inorganic particles to the macrophage cultures significantly increased the fibroblast-stimulating activity of the AMCM. The growth factor was stable after concentration (100-fold), lyophilization and reconstitution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

An Ustilago maydis Mutant Partially Blocked in P45014DM Activity Is Hypersensitive to Azole Fungicides

An Ustilago maydis ergosterol biosynthesis mutant (A14) which is partially blocked in sterol 14alpha-demethylase (P45014DM) activity is described. This mutant accumulated the abnormal 14alpha-methyl sterols, eburicol, 14alpha-methylfecosterol, and obtusifoliol, along with significant amounts of ergosterol. Although the A14 mutant grew nearly as well as the wild type, it was impaired in cell extension growth, which indicated a dysfunction in apical cell wall synthesis. The mutant was also found to be hypersensitive to the azole fungicides penconazole and tebuconazole.     

Ultrastructural study of the permeability of the guinea-pig placenta to horseradish peroxidase

Summary Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used to study macromolecule permeation into the guinea-pig placenta perfused in situ. When tissue culture medium 199 (TC 199) was used as fetal-side perfusate, the tracer reaction product was found only lining the fetal endothelium. When a longer period of perfusion with HRP in TC 199 was used, a small amount of reaction product was found in the subendothelial space and syncytiotrophoblastic vesicles, but not in maternal lacunae. In similar experiments using a Krebs bicarbonate Ringer (KRBG) as perfusate the tracer was found (i) lining the fetal endothelium, (ii) in the lateral intercellular spaces of the endothelium, (iii) in the subendothelial space, and (iv) in the maternal lacunae.It is therefore evident that the vehicle influenced the permeability of the guinea-pig placenta to horseradish peroxidase. As other studies have shown that perfusion of the fetal side with salt solution increases pore size, the results with TC 199 are regarded as more representative of the situation in the intact animal. It is therefore suggested that the fetal endothelium of the guinea-pig placenta may be largely impermeable to molecules of the size of horseradish peroxidase (4 nm) or larger.